Brexit talks move forward

Brexit will see the UK no longer a part of the EU.
Photo credit: Getty

British Prime Minister Theresa May has won a modest reprieve in stalled Brexit talks, with European Union leaders signalling their readiness to move the negotiations forward in the coming months.

But despite a more positive tone, a weakened Ms May now faces a delicate political balancing act as she tries to meet EU demands for more concrete pledges on Britain's divorce bill without stoking a backlash from Brexit campaigners at home, some of whom would prefer she walk away from the talks.

EU leaders said on Friday at a summit in Brussels that they would begin preparations to move into "phase two" of the Brexit negotiations in December, a step forward that would allow London to discuss its future trade relationship with the bloc.

Yet they also made clear that Ms May would have to move between now and the end of the year on settling a financial bill that EU officials have estimated at around NZ$100 billion.

"I think it is very clear what additional steps need to be taken," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference at the end of the summit, saying movement on the financial settlement was crucial for progress in December.

French President Emmanuel Macron was tougher, saying the two sides had not yet completed even half of the work on the financial settlement and accusing Britain of "bluffing" by using the media to suggest there could be no deal.

An EU official said it took just 90 seconds for the 27 other leaders to adopt their Brexit conclusions at the end of the meeting, underlining how united they are.

Ms May has said she cannot provide a specific financial pledge until she knows the shape of the future relationship. The EU is insisting that the two sides agree on an exit bill, the rights of EU citizens in a post-Brexit world and Irish border issues before delving into future ties.

Still, the leaders held open the hope of reaching a deal at the next regular summit in December. And in a move that could save weeks of delay, they ordered EU negotiators to start preparing for what Brussels will want in a transition period.